Sorry for the lack of posting . A lot has been going on. Root stock for Apples and Pears arrived yesterday and we will start grafting today . I was able to collect many varieties of scion wood to graft with, both from my orchard and another orchard close by. With some luck ,we will be giving these trees new life on the farm in the near future .
The last I checked ,we still had three hives alive on the farm. It has been a terrible year for Bees ,with all the wild temperature fluctuations . I am hoping these gals make it but I’m not holding my breath . Replacement Bees have been ordered and if these gals do make it ,the Apiary gets a little bigger . Still have a good supply of excellent Honey from the farm ,the Honey from here at the house will soon be sold out .
We should see our Elder cuttings arrive soon and have a work weekend planned for the 4/15 weekend to get those babies in the ground .
Attended an excellent workshop on Medicinal Herds put on by Healing Spirits Herb Farm in Avoca N.Y. Learned some new stuff and also got confirmation that we are doing a lot of things correctly . It is a huge plus to have farmers so close by to learn from .We have Elecampane ,Astragulus , Codonopsis, St John’s Wort ,Echinacea, Pleurisy Root, Ghost Peppers, Arnica and Rhiodiola started in our basement grow room. Some of these are almost ready to transplant into single pots . I anticipate having extra plants to sell on a first come ,first serve basis .
I am expanding the orchard on the farm this year with some Apple varieties that are noted for Cider (Hard and Sweet),along with some more Peach trees. . .What was supposed to be a tiny orchard ,is close to 50 trees (without counting any grafted trees we are doing ourselves ) YIKES!! Someone needs to rein me in!!
I have put a lot of thought this Winter into getting to the Farm full time . I’m not getting any younger and I am really feeling my soul being pulled in that direction .I have so much to do before I can make this change that sometimes the burden seems overwhelming .
A Farmers work is never done .